Charles A. Flynn

Charles A. Flynn (born ) is a retired United States Army general who last served as the commanding general of United States Army Pacific from 2021 to 2024. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Training (G3/5/7) of the Army Staff from 2019 to 2021. He is the younger brother of Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn, Donald Trump's first National Security Advisor. Flynn received his commission via the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the University of Rhode Island in 1985. In addition, he completed the Ranger, Airborne, and Pathfinder courses. On 25 January 2021, the Department of Defense named Flynn as the next commander of the United States Army Pacific at Fort Shafter in Honolulu. He assumed that command in a change of command ceremony at Fort Shafter, Hawaii on 4 June 2021.

Flynn retired in 2024. In June 2024, Flynn was appointed an honorary Officer of the Order of Australia, for distinguished service in fostering and deepening the military relationship between Australia and the United States of America.

U.S. Capitol attack

During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, a conference call took place between Capitol police, D.C. officials, and Pentagon officials. In that call, the Chief of the Capitol police made "an urgent, urgent immediate request for National Guard assistance", telling them he needed "boots on the ground". However, Lieutenant General Walter E. Piatt, Director of the Army Staff, said he could not recommend the request be approved. Initially denying his involvement, the Army later confirmed that Flynn had participated in the phone call, although it claimed he cannot remember if he said anything on the critical call about deploying National Guard, but others on the call reported hearing his voice. In early December 2021, Colonel Earl G. Matthews released a memo that accused Flynn of making willful distortions of the events of 6 January, describing Flynn and Piatt as "absolute and unmitigated liars" and of giving “perjured testimony before Congress”. Charles Flynn's role drew scrutiny in light of his brother Michael's recent calls for martial law and a redo election overseen by the military.

Awards and decorations

504th Infantry Regiment Combat Service Identification BadgeCanadian Jump WingsJoint Meritorious UnitAwardwith oak leaf clusterArmy Meritorious UnitCommendation82nd Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge

Other awards